Transfer Centre

Barcelona 'want Neymar to wait a year before return'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 05 April 2021

Barcelona will only re-sign Neymar if they are able to welcome him back for free when his Paris Saint-Germain deal expires in 2022, according to a report.

Barcelona are reportedly happy to welcome Neymar back to the club on the condition that he joins them on a free transfer in 2022.

The former Blaugrana attacker is yet to pen an extension on his existing deal with Paris Saint-Germain, which expires at the end of next season, although negotiations over a new contract until 2026 are thought to be progressing well.

However, Neymar has been vocal about his desire to link up with Lionel Messi once more, with the six-time Ballon d'Or winner supposedly prepared to perform a dramatic U-turn and pen a new deal with Barcelona.

As a result, Mundo Deportivo claims that a return to Barcelona for Neymar is very much a possibility, but the Catalan giants are not prepared to fork out an extortionate transfer fee for the 29-year-old while he is still contracted to PSG.

At this moment in time, however, the cash-strapped Catalans are currently prioritising a new deal for Messi, and the Argentine has reportedly laid out a list of demands that the club must meet if he is to extend his stay with Barcelona.

Neymar has amassed 13 goals and six assists across all competitions for PSG this term, but a groin injury prevented him from lining up against his former club in the Champions League in the last 16.